Mission History
On February 19, 1945 took off from Nadzab Airfield on a flight bound for Port Moresby. During the flight, this C-47 dropped to low altitude to investigage a crashed plane observed on the ground. Near Wau, this C-47 impacted the side of a mountain killing seven of the crew. The radio operator bailed out and survived.

Fate of the CrewThe radio operator was rescued by local people and returned to duty.

WreckageAfterwards, the crash site was located and remains of the crew were recovered and buried at
Finschhafen Cemetery. Postwar, the crew was exhumed and transported to the United States for permanent burial.

MemorialsThe entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After the recovery of remains, Wondaal was buried on June 20, 1948 at Fairmount-Willow Hills Memorial Park in Willow Springs, IL at plot 12A lot 308.

Relatives
Linda Mashek (niece of Wondaal):
"My uncle, Lieutenant Jacob (Jack) E. Wondaal was piloting a C-47 over Wau, New Guinea while flying from Nadzab to Moresby on Feb. 19th, 1945. According to his funeral memorial "The plane crashed into the side of the mountain near Wau, while dropping to a low altitude to investigate a wrecked plane they saw on the ground. Their plane was completely destroyed and Jack and seven crew members were killed instantly. The radio operator bailed out and was rescued by natives. Jacks remains were flown to the US Military Cemetery at Finschhafen, New Guinea, where he was given a Christian burial" Approximately 3 years later his body was returned to the family."